Throughout the tour of UAE, England's bowlers have performed impressively but against England Lions it could be argued they were too good as they shot out the second-string team for 96, leading to a contrived chase in Abu Dhabi. The two captains and coaches decided the senior side needed a more thorough workout before facing Pakistan, so it was agreed they would bat till they reached 230, which they did in 45.5 overs.

The negotiations served their purpose as England's beleaguered top order spent some valuable time in the middle, with Jonathan Trott finishing unbeaten on 75, Alastair Cook making 68 and Kevin Pietersen, back opening the batting, contributing a brisk 41. Ravi Bopara came in at No 4, a hint towards the order likely on Monday against Pakistan, but it meant Eoin Morgan only faced three deliveries following his poor Test series.

However, England's bowlers all appear in fine fettle. Jade Dernbach, who may struggle to make the starting XI for the one-day series when Stuart Broad returns from being rested here, produced a three-wicket burst with the new ball. Steven Finn also slotted back into action with three for himself and Tim Bresnan got through five overs on his return from injury.

Dernbach made an immediate impression when he removed Alex Hales' off stump and had a second scalp by the end of his opening over when he trapped the in-form Joe Root lbw. He soon added another as James Vince pulled to square leg and when Jonny Bairstow edged Finn the Lions were in a mess on 14 for 4.

James Taylor, the Lions captain, tried to steady the innings but lost Moeen Ali who edged Graeme Swann to slip. Taylor, having reach 30, then fell to Bresnan before Swann performed his usual trick of removing left-handers by claiming Scott Borthwick.

A last-wicket stand of 27 between Chris Woakes and Jack Brooks pushed the total towards three figures but Finn ended the brief resistance as the Lions were bowled out inside 29 overs.

Opening together for the first time, Cook and Pietersen eased into their task at a good rate and almost knocked off the original target themselves. Pietersen, who managed just 67 runs in the Test series, was greeted by Danny Briggs, the Hampshire left-arm spinner who is in the full one-day squad, taking the new ball. This time, though, it was pace which removed him when he edged Chris Woakes, leaving England's two accumulators, Cook and Trott, to guide the innings.

With no great pressure from the run-rate it was a comfortable situation for them, although the match had effectively become a glorified net session. However, Trott did manage something he has only achieved twice in his 40 ODIs when he struck a six. The pair added 72 in 13 overs before Cook was stumped off Briggs which allowed Bopara his first innings of the tour. His 36 ensured he reacquainted himself with run-scoring ahead of a one-day series that is crucial to his future international prospects. The same could be said of a number of his colleagues.

I think that the best we can hope for as a result of this game is that the England batsmen gain a little confidence, which would be sorely lacking after that Test series. They could only do so much under the circumstances. There wasn't much choice for opposition for this warm up, although I do think that, once they'd chosen to play with the Lions, they could have managed things a bit better. I'm actually not too worried about these limited-overs games. I thought Pakistan would provide a fight in the the Tests but I expected England to win, so I felt the pressure England were under. I'll be disappointed if they perform badly in the ODIs and T20s but I won't be too surprised. I actually think that England may fare OK against the spinners because they won't go in with the negative, defensive approach they did in the Tests. I think that that was their biggest issue. They always looked better when they were batting positively, as little as it happened.

jmcilhinney
on February 12, 2012, 8:20 GMT

@PutMarshyOn, it's hard to read too much into one innings. England were resoundingly beaten by Pakistan in the Test series but they did bowl Pakistan out for 99 in one innings. There was another England vs Lions game not too long ago that the Lions won, so you can't really use one to make a point and ignore the other. From the commentary, it did sound like the England bowlers bowled well. Also, the Lions were missing some players from their recent tour matches, either because they were playing on the other team or they were injured.

Malti65
on February 12, 2012, 8:15 GMT

I Think with such preparation against spin, England is going to have a tough time in India and Sri Lanka.

Malti65
on February 12, 2012, 8:02 GMT

Great !!! If this victory makes them feel good, then good for them. But i dont see how this form will help against Afidi-Ajmal etc.

JG2704
on February 11, 2012, 17:34 GMT

@PutMarshyOn on (February 11 2012, 11:41 AM GMT) It says whatever you want it to say - however you want to interpret it. England are inconsistent at one day cricket - sometimes very good - drawing vs India in the WC , beating SA in the WC - sometimes poor - losing to Ire and Bangladesh in the same WC and losing heavily to India and Australia in the last year or so.Also the Lions squad which won a series in SL was bolstered in that series by batsmen which were playing against them in this match.As I said before the tour , it's the test matches that really matter and we failed to deliver in those games. Any win in the ODIs is a bonus and you never know. There is zero pressure as no one really expects England to win

on February 11, 2012, 17:19 GMT

wish you best of Luck young man :)

Sports4Youth
on February 11, 2012, 16:22 GMT

@ dsig3 on (February 10 2012, 14:32 PM GMT) - Why even report on this? This is just England training nothing more. ::--- WOW !!! THAT IS THE HIGHT OF SARCASM. After all Pak did bowl them out for 72 once.

Sports4Youth
on February 11, 2012, 16:20 GMT

@ dsig3 on (Fe 10 2012, 14:32 PM GMT) - Why even report on this? This is just England training nothing more. ::-- Absolutely Agreed. This was more like a Net practice session. Only that in the Nets they would have faced a better quality bowlers like Andherson, Broad, Finn, Dernbach, Swann, Patel Etc.

@ yorkshirematt on (Feb 10 2012, 22:37 PM GMT) : -- . You nailed it mate. After all they were all out for 72 once, and 145 in the first innings of the next match.

jmcilhinney
on February 12, 2012, 12:01 GMT

I think that the best we can hope for as a result of this game is that the England batsmen gain a little confidence, which would be sorely lacking after that Test series. They could only do so much under the circumstances. There wasn't much choice for opposition for this warm up, although I do think that, once they'd chosen to play with the Lions, they could have managed things a bit better. I'm actually not too worried about these limited-overs games. I thought Pakistan would provide a fight in the the Tests but I expected England to win, so I felt the pressure England were under. I'll be disappointed if they perform badly in the ODIs and T20s but I won't be too surprised. I actually think that England may fare OK against the spinners because they won't go in with the negative, defensive approach they did in the Tests. I think that that was their biggest issue. They always looked better when they were batting positively, as little as it happened.

jmcilhinney
on February 12, 2012, 8:20 GMT

@PutMarshyOn, it's hard to read too much into one innings. England were resoundingly beaten by Pakistan in the Test series but they did bowl Pakistan out for 99 in one innings. There was another England vs Lions game not too long ago that the Lions won, so you can't really use one to make a point and ignore the other. From the commentary, it did sound like the England bowlers bowled well. Also, the Lions were missing some players from their recent tour matches, either because they were playing on the other team or they were injured.

Malti65
on February 12, 2012, 8:15 GMT

I Think with such preparation against spin, England is going to have a tough time in India and Sri Lanka.

Malti65
on February 12, 2012, 8:02 GMT

Great !!! If this victory makes them feel good, then good for them. But i dont see how this form will help against Afidi-Ajmal etc.

JG2704
on February 11, 2012, 17:34 GMT

@PutMarshyOn on (February 11 2012, 11:41 AM GMT) It says whatever you want it to say - however you want to interpret it. England are inconsistent at one day cricket - sometimes very good - drawing vs India in the WC , beating SA in the WC - sometimes poor - losing to Ire and Bangladesh in the same WC and losing heavily to India and Australia in the last year or so.Also the Lions squad which won a series in SL was bolstered in that series by batsmen which were playing against them in this match.As I said before the tour , it's the test matches that really matter and we failed to deliver in those games. Any win in the ODIs is a bonus and you never know. There is zero pressure as no one really expects England to win

on February 11, 2012, 17:19 GMT

wish you best of Luck young man :)

Sports4Youth
on February 11, 2012, 16:22 GMT

@ dsig3 on (February 10 2012, 14:32 PM GMT) - Why even report on this? This is just England training nothing more. ::--- WOW !!! THAT IS THE HIGHT OF SARCASM. After all Pak did bowl them out for 72 once.

Sports4Youth
on February 11, 2012, 16:20 GMT

@ dsig3 on (Fe 10 2012, 14:32 PM GMT) - Why even report on this? This is just England training nothing more. ::-- Absolutely Agreed. This was more like a Net practice session. Only that in the Nets they would have faced a better quality bowlers like Andherson, Broad, Finn, Dernbach, Swann, Patel Etc.

@ yorkshirematt on (Feb 10 2012, 22:37 PM GMT) : -- . You nailed it mate. After all they were all out for 72 once, and 145 in the first innings of the next match.

Sports4Youth
on February 11, 2012, 15:59 GMT

@ Andrew Hall on (Feb 10 2012, 23:18 PM GMT) : -- Agreed. Any thing between 280 - 300 would be a better target for the quality of opposition they were playing. 230 really reflects their lack of confidence. 230 might be a good score against Pak (provided they get Pak out for Pak). But getting 230 against Pak bowlers will be a different ball game. To get a good measure of the pitch and the challenges against spin they should learn to up the ante. 280 - 300 would have served a better purpose.

yorkshire-86
on February 11, 2012, 15:52 GMT

We really need to ditch the dreadful Bopara if we are to go forward in the 50 over game. He has been given nearly 70 ODI's and still averages under thirty, at a strike rate only 5 points above Trott's.

Sports4Youth
on February 11, 2012, 15:50 GMT

@ Goldeneye175 on (Feb 10 2012, 15:09 PM GMT) : -- . This match would have boosted confidence for Pietersen, Trott and Cook, who all scored 41, 68 and 75* respectively, IF MONTY AND SOME OF THE BETTER SPINNERS WOULD HAVE PLAYED IN THE OPPOSITION. Also i thought James Tredwell was impressive in India in the WC 2011. Apart from Johnny Bairstow I could not see any name of any worth. On top of it, a target of 230 ??? I think it was just a joke. I Think Eng believe in winning the practice matches (against week oppositions). But that does not help. They should look for something that should challenge them mentally and physically.

Sports4Youth
on February 11, 2012, 15:31 GMT

@ tomphillips & rahulcricket007 :-- I Agree. I think FIRSTLY they should have put Monty and some of their better spinners in the Lions team if they really wanted a good batting practice and SECONDLY . they should have set themselves a targt of 300 and then they should have gone about the task of chasing it down. Now what they have done is that they set a stupid target against the Non-sense bowling attack and then tell us " BATSMEN FIND FORM" . Do these people take us to be morons that we should take whatever they give us ?.

Sports4Youth
on February 11, 2012, 15:25 GMT

@ Haleos on (Feb 10 2012, 12:58 PM GMT) : - Right. As far as Ajmal is concerned now it is also ODI time and hence he has a limit of 10 overs of torment only. That should be some relief to the England team. But now be ready for a fresh challenge from BOOM-BOOM-Afridi. He is their best player in ODI format. Luckily Abdul Razzak is not here becouse his shoulder injury has not fully healed. If Palk decides to play Shoeb Malik then we can expect upto 40 overs spin from Afridi, Ajmal, Hafeez, Malik. probably Gul, Riaz, Malik may do 20 overs, With Afidi, Ajmal & Hafeez doing their full quota.

Sports4Youth
on February 11, 2012, 15:14 GMT

@ Timoid on (Feb 10 2012, 12:39 PM GMT) : - . . England did not want a real practice, these guys are too lazy to like real challeng. They just wanted a farce to please themselves and the public. If They wanted real practice they would have also played Afghanistan who gave stiff competition to the Pak team. But you are right if Monty would have been played in the practice match these guys would have got a better practice against good spin.

Sports4Youth
on February 11, 2012, 15:07 GMT

@ anuradha_d on (Feb 10 2012, 14:40 PM GMT) : - . . Agreed. I think to get a sense of the competiveness they should have played a more efficient and more real Afghan Side as Pak did. Atleast there was a sence of competition in the Af-Pak match. They also gave the Pak team a little scare with their batting skills. Later when the 3 wickets were down Pak got a sense of Match pressure. I could not see any of that in the Eng practice match, and the form talked about in this Article is just NON-SENSE.

Sports4Youth
on February 11, 2012, 15:02 GMT

@ yorkshirematt on (Feb 10 2012, 22:37 PM GMT) : - . I personally feel England should have played Afghanistan as Pak did. That was more challenging and geniune match practice, with a geniun pressure. The type of Practice that the Eng team has taken against 2nd or 3rd choice players does not mean anything to me. For this they could have stuck to Net Practice. I seriously feel Even before touring SL & India Eng should consider a small series with Afghanistan. It will give them a better measure of the Pitches in India and how to handle them with the ball and the bat.

Sports4Youth
on February 11, 2012, 14:52 GMT

After watching the Pak-Afghan ODI, I feel Instead of playing a practice match with Eng Lions, the English team should have played a practice match wth this Afghan team. It would have definately challenged them more. They would have got better quality match practice, just like Pak did. It looks that the Afghan boys really gave Misbah a real scare and he decided to play safe and instead of giving match practice to S.Malik, S.Afridi & U.Akmal allowed the pro's to finish the game. This is the type of practice that Eng should be aiming at.

Sports4Youth
on February 11, 2012, 14:45 GMT

In the ODI series Eng should stop worrying too much about Ajmal and should concentrate on BOOM-BOOM Afridi. In the last 12 months Afridi has been the Paks best ODI bowler taking 46 wickets @ 16.8 -avg, and a strike rate of 25.1 deliveries per victim. Also In the ODI's Wahab Riaz has very effective stats, throw in Gul, Hafeez & Ajmal. I think Eng have some test on hand.

RandyOZ
on February 11, 2012, 12:22 GMT

Looks like most of the English fans here are still wiping that egg off their face.

RandyOZ
on February 11, 2012, 12:08 GMT

Battle of the strugglers here.

PutMarshyOn
on February 11, 2012, 11:41 GMT

What does this say about England's strength-in-depth?

JG2704
on February 11, 2012, 8:46 GMT

@Goldeneye175 on (February 10 2012, 15:09 PM GMT) That doesn't look a bad side but I would definitely make room for Buttler if he is fit. Also I think you'd need at least 2 spin options and Patel gives you that. I thought Patel was one of our better performers in the last tour. I would also rest Broad as he's too important a player to risk injury in these matches

JG2704
on February 11, 2012, 8:45 GMT

@Munkeymomo on (February 10 2012, 15:33 PM GMT) - You mention Trott which I guess is a slight dig at his scoring rate. To be fair to him - with the exception of KP , CK and EM he is around the same or better than the others in the side - at least compared to Bopara and Cook who he scored faster than today. What is a worry is our seeming inability to pick off single regularly.If you look at all our batsmen's stats - if you take away the balls where they scored 4s and 6s Cook would have scored 40 from 84 , KP 21 from 40 , Trott 41 from 84 and Bopara 24 from 45. Obviously the 4s and 6s are valuable and increase the SRs but could they not be busier at finding the gaps for the 1s and 2s? One thing I've liked about Buttler when I've seen him play for Somerset is he seems to be busy knocking the ball around for 1s and 2s from the word go.

jmcilhinney
on February 11, 2012, 5:16 GMT

This was a slightly tricky situation for England but, like most others here, I'm not sure that they thought it through properly. Obviously the host country would normally provide opposition for such tour games, like county teams in England play touring countries. It's not really Pakistan's fault that they can't really do so in UAE. The A & A team played before the tests was a good idea but you obviously can't keep transporting that many players from all over for tour games. Playing the Lions was at least a way to get a 50-over game in before the ODIs against Pakistan. It probably would have been a good idea to provide a more even distribution of first and second team players between the two teams. Once England found themselves up against a score of 96, if they wanted to push themselves then they should have pushed themselves, not chased 230. This games proves nothing regardless, even if England scored 600. It was time in the middle, which is good, but even then not for everybody.

on February 10, 2012, 23:18 GMT

Why not set England 280, or just let them bat out the rest of the overs? 230 shows the lack of ambition in this one-day setup.

yorkshirematt
on February 10, 2012, 22:37 GMT

The full England side wanted a more "challenging" total to chase so 230 was the agreed target. Which just added to the farcical nature of the match. Mind you, the way England have batted in the UAE 96 would still be a difficult chase for them against Pakistan.

JG2704
on February 10, 2012, 20:46 GMT

I like the idea the Lions playing the full side but it worked out as a bizzarre one sided game.Agree with Bestbuddy that I'm disappointed it was so one sided but the Lions won the series in SL so that's not struggling too much in my eyes. Also bear in mind that Buttler wasn't playing for the Lions and neither were the more experienced Patel and Keiswetter so they were missing half the batsmen which played in SL.

agree wid u yorkshire matt as we all know english batsman have played dis dolly bowlers a lot in county circuit and specially dis batting paradise pitch in uae is the easiest pitch 2 bat on the real fun will cum wen we play agaiinst pakistani .like wise 2 day younis khan made half century aswell we cant predict wat will happen on mon and how will our top orders will perform . i have a doubt dat hafeez mite open the bowling

on February 10, 2012, 18:55 GMT

England back to being world beaters

rahulcricket007
on February 10, 2012, 18:18 GMT

@KP289 . BOOM BOOM AFRIDI IS BACK , BEWARE OF HIS 120 KPH SLIDERS .

cricket_fan_1980
on February 10, 2012, 16:25 GMT

Boom Boom is back in Town! :) Looking forward to Monday. Good to see KP back with some form.

KingofRedLions
on February 10, 2012, 15:58 GMT

Why didn't they just bat first?

Munkeymomo
on February 10, 2012, 15:33 GMT

It seems Jos Buttler wasn't risked, as whichever team he played for would have won hands down. Fair call. As it stands, what a waste of a match. Pointless and just serves to make the Lions side look poor and the England side look good (ish). I think half the reason English fans don't care about ODIs is because we still have batsmen like Trott in. I like KP opening though, if he's gunna play he may as well open and hit it hard. Glad to see Moeen Ali in the Lions side by the way, hopefully he can turn into a good batsman/part time spinner for the seniors.

kp289
on February 10, 2012, 15:12 GMT

k.p is back.... pakistan bowlers beware of k.p!!!!!!!!!!!.......

Goldeneye175
on February 10, 2012, 15:11 GMT

"Say, England's top six playing with the Lions 7-11, and vice versa. It would, at least, have made an interesting contest."

Dont they do this in the nets anyway, our primary bowlers vs. our primary batters?

Goldeneye175
on February 10, 2012, 15:09 GMT

This match will boost confidence for Pietersen, Trott and Cook, who all scored 41, 68 and 75* respectively. Bell was in wretched form, so Bopara's 36 will be reassuring that some assistance from the middle order can be acheived!

If I was the selector, I would pick Broad, Bresnan, Woakes, Swann and Finn (correct balance of pace and batting prowess, which would be a full 10 strong!). I know he has just returned from injury, but PLEASE play Woakes, he is such an asset as a all-rounder, and boy can he smash boundaries; partner him with Kieswetter and watch the fireworks kick-off)

Only concerns; Morgan (awful form, not given much of a run-out today), Patel (overweight, picked because of his batting ability, if this fails, he will be dropped), Dernbach (not convinced yet totally)

I've read the first seven comments on this thread. All are good points. It seems to have been a fairly pointless exercise. Why not chase 300/280 and put England's out-of form bats under some pressure? Why wasn't there a greater balance between the sides? Say, England's top six playing with the Lions 7-11, and vice versa. It would, at least, have made an interesting contest. As it is, the Lions were missing their star, Jos Buttler, which flattered the first XI even more. I suppose on this 'form' Dernbach gets a berth... I have my hands over my ears and will set up a barricade behind the sofa come Monday. Prove me wrong, England!

anuradha_d
on February 10, 2012, 14:40 GMT

Andrew's Report is titled....."Batsmen find form"....who are you kidding?....didn't in real first class games before the tests....Eng batsmen and bowlers founf form leading them to wins over ICC side and Lions side??......and what kind of form does a game where a score of 96 is turned into 230 ( and why only 230?).....strentched to........Eng batsmen did winter training and orientation in academy and in India and had enouhg tour games.........form is NOT what they are lacking....but COMPETENCE......to handle spinners on pitches that are outside their comfort zone......5-0 against spin in ODIs in India and 3-0 in tests.......and attributing that to form is merely kidding oneself

yorkshirematt
on February 10, 2012, 14:34 GMT

A completely pointless match really. We all know the england batsman can bat against county bowlers, they've already proved it to get into the England side.

bestbuddy
on February 10, 2012, 14:33 GMT

I would say that what is more pressing than setting an rather unchallenging 230 to win was the complete lack of performances from the england lions team. They have just spend 2 months (struggling) against bangladesh and sri lanka but still couldnt perform against what must be a pretty demoralised full england team - no one pushing to replace the out of form first teamers. Can't say england's depth is all that good right now; symptomatic of what is a really average country circuit...and if you feel it isnt average just compare the averages of SA and Aus foreigners in county cricket over the past few years to what they average at home

dsig3
on February 10, 2012, 14:32 GMT

Why even report on this? This is just England training nothing more.

on February 10, 2012, 14:29 GMT

England Lions probably thought 96 would be enough!

D.S.A
on February 10, 2012, 13:39 GMT

Chris Nash in for Pietersen, Steven Davies in for Trott. English and Welsh players for the England and Wales team...or is that not applicable for this team?...

Gizza
on February 10, 2012, 13:36 GMT

This is odd! An England team playing another England team in Abu Dhabi. And some players from the first England team finding form against the second England team. I don't think you can read much into this unfortunately. To use an analogy in the opposite context, I think much of India's batting lineup can find form on Australian pitches if they faced the India A bowlers on them.

tomphillips
on February 10, 2012, 13:34 GMT

230?!! What was the point in that? Why not put themselves under pressure and chase 300?

rahulcricket007
on February 10, 2012, 13:08 GMT

I WONDER IF THEY HAD TO DO PRACTICE FOR TIGHT BATTING THEN WHY DON'T THEY TRY TO CHASE 300 . IT WOULD BE REAL TEST FOR THEM . CHASING 230 ON ASIAN TRACKS IS EASY THAT TOO WHEN THE OPPOSITE SIDE CONSISTS OF INEXPERIENCED BOWLERS .

I WONDER IF THEY HAD TO DO PRACTICE FOR TIGHT BATTING THEN WHY DON'T THEY TRY TO CHASE 300 . IT WOULD BE REAL TEST FOR THEM . CHASING 230 ON ASIAN TRACKS IS EASY THAT TOO WHEN THE OPPOSITE SIDE CONSISTS OF INEXPERIENCED BOWLERS .

tomphillips
on February 10, 2012, 13:34 GMT

230?!! What was the point in that? Why not put themselves under pressure and chase 300?

Gizza
on February 10, 2012, 13:36 GMT

This is odd! An England team playing another England team in Abu Dhabi. And some players from the first England team finding form against the second England team. I don't think you can read much into this unfortunately. To use an analogy in the opposite context, I think much of India's batting lineup can find form on Australian pitches if they faced the India A bowlers on them.

D.S.A
on February 10, 2012, 13:39 GMT

Chris Nash in for Pietersen, Steven Davies in for Trott. English and Welsh players for the England and Wales team...or is that not applicable for this team?...

on February 10, 2012, 14:29 GMT

England Lions probably thought 96 would be enough!

dsig3
on February 10, 2012, 14:32 GMT

Why even report on this? This is just England training nothing more.

bestbuddy
on February 10, 2012, 14:33 GMT

I would say that what is more pressing than setting an rather unchallenging 230 to win was the complete lack of performances from the england lions team. They have just spend 2 months (struggling) against bangladesh and sri lanka but still couldnt perform against what must be a pretty demoralised full england team - no one pushing to replace the out of form first teamers. Can't say england's depth is all that good right now; symptomatic of what is a really average country circuit...and if you feel it isnt average just compare the averages of SA and Aus foreigners in county cricket over the past few years to what they average at home